I have my 300 win mag PSS sitting here and was wondering, what would happen if i put one of those m852 from the shelf into the chamber and fired. It is the same size bullet (.308) is the pressure going to be too low or would it work?

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

I'd rather be sorry for something I've done then for something that I didn't

PUT THE RIFLE DOWN AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE LOADING BENCH. A quick and easy simulation of your questions outcome can be had by having your largest neighbor crack you over the head with a shovel. Then have the neighbor mail the rifle to my FFL. It's just better that way for all concerned.

Every time you touch off a high-velocity centerfire cartridge, the chamber pressure will peak around 50,000 PSI IIRC. At that kind of pressure, your tolerances must be pretty tight. Although the diameter is the same, the case length and the head diameter are much smaller. Since the case will not be supported in at least two directions by the chamber and/or boltface, the case will fail. Depending upon the manufacturer and construction of your rifle, that hot gas (plasma) will be directed in another direction. At the least you'll have a mess, at the worst your rifle will be destroyed and you will be injured.

However, I believe it would be difficult to fire the rifle as the cartridge would PROBABLY slide forward enough that the firing pin would not contact the primer. If you elect to try it, please warn me in advance so I can be long gone.

SRM

"Laws, rules, regulations, and policies don't prevent us from doing anything. They simply define the possible consequences if you get caught."

It was just an idea, I have plenty of black hills 190gr to last me a while, I didnt think about the length of the casing, that would seriously cause a problem because of the much longer case of the win mag.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

I'd rather be sorry for something I've done then for something that I didn't

Originally Posted By DarkHelmet:Just for kicks... and to keep this thread alive... how about .308 in a .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum)?

Are the cases not roughly the same? It is just a belted .308. Or are they also very much different?

Just wondering. I will not however be trying to fire .300WSM out of my beatiful .308 Bolt Gun.

The case diameter on the WSM is larger than a .308. The shoulder angle might be different, along with the neck length. And I thought the WSM is beltless, but maybe I'm wrong. If it is belted then it headspaces on the belt, instead of the shoulder like a .308, which makes it even more incompatible.I can't believe you guys.

why use 308 just use 7mm mag the cases are closer to the same size and the bullit is so much smaller it goes out of the long thing what ever you call oh a barrel thats right with out ever touching the side as it's a smaller diameter than the 30 cal.(IHOPE YOU WERE NOT SERIOUS AS I'AM NOT)

I don't recommend you try it. There was, however, an article about just this type of thing in one of the gun rags a few years ago. Essentially, cartridges that were too short and still managed to be supported enough by the extractor to fire ended up as pretty strange looking things. They had the neck blown out to chamber diameter. The author did not report any damage to himself or the guns. The point of the article was to NOT do such a thing, though.

Originally Posted By BrodowskiTJ:I have my 300 win mag PSS sitting here and was wondering, what would happen if i put one of those m852 from the shelf into the chamber and fired. It is the same size bullet (.308) is the pressure going to be too low or would it work?

Ideal situation for an instant KB! If you're going to do it, buy two more rifles that match the first. That way you can verify your test results. (NOT!)

Well hopefull the round will not chamber correctly and float away from the bolt saving your face from certain catastrophe. The .300winmag's case is larger in diameter at .513 base to shoulder .491 vs. .470 to .454 and much longer than the .308.

Someone post that picture of what happens when you fire the wrong caliber in a rifle. A picture is worth a thousand warnings.

Everyone should look on the bright side. At least he thought to inquire about it before doing it. Just think about how many people own firearms but don't know about critical dimensions and headspacing.